Lampwork Beads Blog and Lampwork Beads Tips

The Beads!

Ellen Dooley — Sat, 03 May 2008 16:55:59 +0000

Oh my!

I have a kiln full of new lampwork beads, three digital cameras and not one is working! So I guess I won't be posting the new goodies until later...Stay tuned, they are beauties!

Lampwork Bead Tips - Ornamental Resources

Ellen Dooley — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:26:35 +0000

Ornamental Resources is a mail-order company in Colorado. For fifteen dollars, you get a three-ring binder with their catalog..also included are their periodic updates to the catalog..they have some great findings, some nice staple beads to have on your design table, and it is lots of fun to look at and refer to...The images of the products are in black and white, so you have to use your imagination while browsing their catalog, and a mm caliper is essential so that you will know the size of what you are looking at..If you order their catalog, be sure to tell them who send you...(No, I don't receive a cut or anything..I have just used their great catalog for many years, both for my own designs and in classes I teach)

My New Favorite Lampwork Bead Tool

Ellen Dooley — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:07:14 +0000

Look what I got! Now I can make my own murrini..you won't believe what's in the kiln!

Lampwork Bead Tips are on the Blog Now

Ellen Dooley — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:13:18 +0000

I sell a lot of etched beads..My customers always ask how I get such a glowing finish on my beads...I use a product called EtchBath to etch them, but I have come up with a great natural blend to rub them with when they come out of the etch bath...Etching the glass and this blended finish softens and protects them and does not come off on skin or clothing..I will be adding it to my Etsy shop shortly..

Silva Neilands has an great web site with some amazing old beads and ethnic silver pieces..I have bought several things from her and highly recommend her beautiful selection of "bead"ful things! If you purchase one of her "old beads", please be sure to tell her I told you about her web site!

There is a nice bead show at the Semiahmoo Resort this weekend near Bellingham, Washington, where I live..if you are in the area, be sure to check it out..the drive to Semiahmoo is gorgeous!

Bellingham Bead Festival

Under a Rock

Ellen Dooley — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:28:22 +0000

I know this doesn't have much to do with beads but you would have to be under a rock or in a different orbit this week in the Pacific Northwest to not realize that the Dalai Lama has been visiting Seattle to talk about peace, love, and compassion...He seems so down to earth and completely humble. And what a sense of humor! You can find podcasts of his talks and who wouldn't love this picture of him in his red chair...

More bead blogging to come!

Happy Leap Year

Ellen Dooley — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:58:17 +0000

I just got an email from a local wine purveyor announcing a wine tasting tomorrow..Appropriate for the season, one of the featured wines is Frog’s Leap Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon..

Great label

New Bead Tips

Ellen Dooley — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:22:15 +0000

If you are subscribed to my blog and want to see some great bead resources, be sure to check out my new Bead Tips

Something new pops up every day and I am into sharing, so be sure to check it out!

Bead Tips

Ellen Dooley — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:21:51 +0000

I will be adding lampwork bead tips, both for jewelry makers and lampwork glass bead makers. I am really excited about this new feature...I will be adding short-takes..small web-cam "tutorials" to show how something is done..also, I have invited several guest artists to share their favorite short-cuts, secret tips and resources..Stay tuned for the new goodies!

ellen

Seattle..a day off

Ellen Dooley — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 04:51:52 +0000

We took off early this morning in the snow for Seattle to check out a Vietnamese restaurant, stock up on some provisions and do some hands-on research! We went to the Green Leaf for lunch..the Fried Duck Noodle Soup

was amazing..try it if you find yourself in the International District in Seattle...

Malfunctions Can be Beautiful!

Ellen Dooley — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:11:18 +0000

One day over the holidays, we were looking out at the snow, and at the edge of the fenceline, this is what we saw, less than 100 feet from the house. I, of course, ran to get my camera and took this quick shot before the wiley fellow saw us watching him and took off. At first, I was really disappointed about the camera malfuntion, but the more I look at, I like it!